The Sixty Four Organs of Bhakti Marga

Shastras talk about several paths. It is not one path. But, Bhagawan himself says that at the crown of all these, the gem that adorns the crown of all these is the bhakti marga.

'संसृतिनिवृत्तिहेतव उक्ताः शास्त्रेषु बहुविधा यद्यपि
मौलिस्तथापि तेषां स्वयमुक्ता भगवता भक्तिः'

This is because bhakti marga is fast, simple and efficient. Bhakti marga has got 64 angas. It is only when you practice all these sixty-four, it becomes complete.

It is the Vaishnava Acharyas who have made the maximum contribution towards bhakti marga. So, whatever we are going to say, they will be centred around Lord Krishna, but still, if you are a devotee of any other God, you can extrapolate and apply these principles in that context also.

Don’t do whatever you want. Don’t practice in bits and pieces. Follow a complete system. This only a Guru can give you. Take the help of a Guru — a genuine Guru.

Take deeksha of a mantra and learn how to practice it. Offer service to the Guru. Guru is as important as God himself.

Study the path followed by other established devotees. Learn from that. You can always improvise your own sadhana by doing this.

Ask questions, clear your doubts with knowledgeable people. Sacrifice comforts, sacrifice what you like, keep on doing this. If you like ice cream, don’t take it on Saturday. Say that I am doing this for the sake of my sadhana, my Lord.

Try to stay in places which are holy because of the presence of your Lord — like Kashi, Vrindavan. Keep only what you need, what are essential for you. Don’t go on acquiring unwanted things.

Observe vratas such as Ekadashi, Pradosha, Chaturthi. Worship divine trees such as peepal, banyan tree.

Minimise interaction with non-believers. This is in a spiritual context. Avoid discussions with them about spirituality. You may be trying to influence them, but might end up getting influenced yourself. Let them follow their path, you follow your path.

Don’t accept someone undeserving as your disciple. Don’t read books or listen to stuff that are against spirituality, faith or devotion. Don’t get involved in acts that are against spirituality, faith and devotion.

Be generous wherever possible. Avoid grief, avoid anger. Don’t disrespect other Gods.

Don’t cause agitation in anyone. Don’t bring stress in anyone. Follow proper methods of worship. Try to avoid mistakes.

Don’t listen if someone is talking against God or devotees. Wear tilaka, bhasma and other signs showing your devotion. In sadhana, practice nyasa.

Wear flowers offered to God. Express the ecstasy of your devotion without inhibition by singing out aloud, dancing. Offer sashtanga namaskaras in front of the vigraha of God, or panchanga namaskara in case of ladies.

Stand up and offer respect if you are seeing a vigraha of God. If a procession of God's vigraha is being taken out, walk behind it.

Visit temples. Do pradakshina in temples. Worship vigraha of God — or even photo. A photo is also a kind of vigraha only.

Do service to God by bringing garlands for him, making naivedya, cleaning up surroundings. Sing, chant stotras, shlokas in front of idols.

Talk about the greatness of God to others. Do chanting of your mantra regularly, without fail. Pray to him. Tell him your wishes. Ask him to grant your wishes.

Understand and appreciate the meaning of stotras. Take prasada, naivedya offered to God. Never refuse when offered.

Drink charanamrita, teertha from the holy feet. Enjoy the fragrance of dhoopa or agarbatti already offered to God.

Wherever allowed, touch the holy idol. Take darshan of holy idols whenever possible, as many times as possible.

Participate in aratis, deeparadhana of the Lord. Listen to his greatness. Keep on anticipating his mercy upon you.

Keep on remembering him, perpetually. Keep on meditating upon his form. When I say his form, remember that it can be his or her depending on who your ishta devata is.

Offer all good deeds that you have done at the Lord’s feet. Every good deed that you do — declare that it is done for him, on his behalf, as ordered by him.

Have complete faith in him. Surrender yourself and all that is yours to him. Visualize that they are all his, not yours.

Whatever you like, offer them to him also. Take complete refuge in him. If you need help, ask him — not anybody else.

Do everything that is appropriate for a devotee such as wearing traditional clothes. Don’t shy away from such thing. Express your faith and devotion.

Worship plants such as Tulasi. Discuss shastras that can promote your faith and devotion. Aspire for reaching divine worlds such as Vaikuntha.

Serve devotees. Celebrate holy festivals such as Deepavali, Gudi Padwa. Observe holy vratas as and when they come.

Observe and celebrate events such as Janmashtami, Rama Navami. Offer service to idols whenever you get a chance apart from your daily worship.

Contemplate upon shastras which explain the divinity and teach divine principles. Be in the company of pious, devout people.

Take holy names. Visit holy places.

Each one of these can enhance the quality of your faith and devotion and give you faster results.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi